Latest news with #ProjectIKE
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Orano Opens Project IKE Office in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to Support Developing its American Uranium Enrichment Facility
New 40-person office in Oak Ridge leads the continuing development of Orano's planned multibillion-dollar uranium enrichment facility on restored Manhattan Project property. OAK RIDGE, Tenn., June 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Orano USA and more than 100 federal, state, business, and regional leaders recently marked a major milestone for Project IKE, the company's development of America's new multibillion-dollar uranium enrichment facility, with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting opening the company's office in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Project IKE, the single largest investment in Tennessee's history, will advance America's low carbon energy future by producing enriched uranium to power today's nuclear reactors and next-generation designs, bolstering U.S. energy independence and national security. "Oak Ridge is where history meets the future," said Jean-Luc Palayer, CEO of Orano USA. "Today, we stand on historic ground—where American ingenuity first unlocked the power of the atom. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has correctly said that Artificial Intelligence is the Manhattan Project of our time. But we only lead in AI if we can power AI. With that in mind and with Project IKE here in Oak Ridge, we step forward on a new mission of equal consequence. We are developing an American enrichment facility that will fuel not just reactors, but the future—powering new technologies that will define the next century." The event included speeches marking the milestone by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, State Senator Ken Yager, and Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch. The enrichment facility's development is in line with President Trump's recent executive orders regarding nuclear energy, which are intended to revitalize and expand the U.S. nuclear industry, aiming to quadruple nuclear electricity production by 2050. "The announcement of a major global enrichment company opening its office in Oak Ridge, paired with President Trump's strong movement forward in nuclear energy, is about to change the world and change the world for the better," Governor Lee said. "Tennessee will lead this change." Palayer emphasized that applying Orano's 60 years of nuclear expertise in America and its proven centrifuge technology can enable a quicker ramp up for production of advanced nuclear fuels, including high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) and low-enriched uranium (LEU/LEU+). "America needs new nuclear power," said Palayer. "The world needs new nuclear power. And new nuclear power needs Tennessee and Project IKE in Oak Ridge." Located less than 10 miles from Orano's selected Project IKE site near the Oak Ridge Horizon Center Industrial Park, this first group of office employees, including engineers, project managers, and licensing personnel, is in addition to the 300-person workforce expected to operate Orano's uranium enrichment facility. The new Oak Ridge office joins Orano's 15 other sites in the United States including manufacturing facilities in North Carolina, canister operations in Kentucky, nuclear medicine research in Texas, and headquarters in Maryland. Later this year, Orano is celebrating 60 years in the United States as one of the longest operating nuclear energy companies in the nation. For more than 40 years, Orano has reliably produced and supplied American reactors with enriched uranium. Orano's Project IKE is designed to continue this performance from an American facility to provide a reliable, significant, domestic nuclear fuel supply for U.S. advanced reactors and the existing reactor fleet. Orano's planned uranium enrichment center in Oak Ridge is designed as a multi-structure commercial production site covering approximately 750,000 square feet, making it one of the largest in America. Depending on federal funding and customers' support, the facility will produce LEU/LEU+ to fuel existing commercial nuclear energy reactors and, potentially, HALEU to help develop and power advanced reactors. Orano has already taken active steps to support the American market and foster energy independence by launching a 30% uranium enrichment capacity expansion at its operating Georges Besse 2 facility in France. Learn more about Orano's Project IKE and the uranium enrichment facility. About Orano USA: Based in Bethesda, Maryland, with global headquarters in Paris, France, Orano is a leading technology and services provider for the commercial and federal nuclear industries. Orano specializes in uranium mining/conversion/enrichment, advanced reactor services, used nuclear fuel management and recycling, decontaminating and decommissioning radioactive components and facilities, federal site clean-up and closure, and developing nuclear medicines to fight cancer. Media ContactsCurtis RobertsPress Officer(202) Thomas Graham Crosswind Media & Public Relations(512) 537-1414media@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Orano
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Orano Opens Project IKE Office in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to Support Developing its American Uranium Enrichment Facility
New 40-person office in Oak Ridge leads the continuing development of Orano's planned multibillion-dollar uranium enrichment facility on restored Manhattan Project property. OAK RIDGE, Tenn., June 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Orano USA and more than 100 federal, state, business, and regional leaders recently marked a major milestone for Project IKE, the company's development of America's new multibillion-dollar uranium enrichment facility, with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting opening the company's office in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Project IKE, the single largest investment in Tennessee's history, will advance America's low carbon energy future by producing enriched uranium to power today's nuclear reactors and next-generation designs, bolstering U.S. energy independence and national security. "Oak Ridge is where history meets the future," said Jean-Luc Palayer, CEO of Orano USA. "Today, we stand on historic ground—where American ingenuity first unlocked the power of the atom. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has correctly said that Artificial Intelligence is the Manhattan Project of our time. But we only lead in AI if we can power AI. With that in mind and with Project IKE here in Oak Ridge, we step forward on a new mission of equal consequence. We are developing an American enrichment facility that will fuel not just reactors, but the future—powering new technologies that will define the next century." The event included speeches marking the milestone by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, State Senator Ken Yager, and Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch. The enrichment facility's development is in line with President Trump's recent executive orders regarding nuclear energy, which are intended to revitalize and expand the U.S. nuclear industry, aiming to quadruple nuclear electricity production by 2050. "The announcement of a major global enrichment company opening its office in Oak Ridge, paired with President Trump's strong movement forward in nuclear energy, is about to change the world and change the world for the better," Governor Lee said. "Tennessee will lead this change." Palayer emphasized that applying Orano's 60 years of nuclear expertise in America and its proven centrifuge technology can enable a quicker ramp up for production of advanced nuclear fuels, including high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) and low-enriched uranium (LEU/LEU+). "America needs new nuclear power," said Palayer. "The world needs new nuclear power. And new nuclear power needs Tennessee and Project IKE in Oak Ridge." Located less than 10 miles from Orano's selected Project IKE site near the Oak Ridge Horizon Center Industrial Park, this first group of office employees, including engineers, project managers, and licensing personnel, is in addition to the 300-person workforce expected to operate Orano's uranium enrichment facility. The new Oak Ridge office joins Orano's 15 other sites in the United States including manufacturing facilities in North Carolina, canister operations in Kentucky, nuclear medicine research in Texas, and headquarters in Maryland. Later this year, Orano is celebrating 60 years in the United States as one of the longest operating nuclear energy companies in the nation. For more than 40 years, Orano has reliably produced and supplied American reactors with enriched uranium. Orano's Project IKE is designed to continue this performance from an American facility to provide a reliable, significant, domestic nuclear fuel supply for U.S. advanced reactors and the existing reactor fleet. Orano's planned uranium enrichment center in Oak Ridge is designed as a multi-structure commercial production site covering approximately 750,000 square feet, making it one of the largest in America. Depending on federal funding and customers' support, the facility will produce LEU/LEU+ to fuel existing commercial nuclear energy reactors and, potentially, HALEU to help develop and power advanced reactors. Orano has already taken active steps to support the American market and foster energy independence by launching a 30% uranium enrichment capacity expansion at its operating Georges Besse 2 facility in France. Learn more about Orano's Project IKE and the uranium enrichment facility. About Orano USA: Based in Bethesda, Maryland, with global headquarters in Paris, France, Orano is a leading technology and services provider for the commercial and federal nuclear industries. Orano specializes in uranium mining/conversion/enrichment, advanced reactor services, used nuclear fuel management and recycling, decontaminating and decommissioning radioactive components and facilities, federal site clean-up and closure, and developing nuclear medicines to fight cancer. Media ContactsCurtis RobertsPress Officer(202) Thomas Graham Crosswind Media & Public Relations(512) 537-1414media@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Orano Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New uranium enrichment facility to bring nuclear advancement to Oak Ridge
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WATE) — Governor Bill Lee and Senator Marsha Blackburn were in East Tennessee Thursday, celebrating a new multi-billion dollar uranium enrichment facility that is coming to Oak Ridge. The development is called Project IKE, and is set to bring one of the largest uranium enrichment facilities in the country to an area already well-known for its contributions to nuclear power. State and local leaders joined the Orano group as they announced they will be opening offices in the area and will soon begin construction on the new facility. 'In my opinion, Orano will continue to add to the legacy of greatness and accomplishments, not only in Oak Ridge, but in our state,' said Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch. Man charged after brother fatally stabbed, dog drowned in Sevier County Local leaders like Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank said this will put Oak Ridge back on the map 'In terms of what it means for our area, it just means prosperity, increased growth, a lot of good things for the people who live and work here,' said Frank. While the development will bring over 300 jobs to Oak Ridge and its surrounding counties, state leaders stressed how it will also help meet America's need for more nuclear energy. 'America is learning that we are staring down the barrel of an energy crisis in this country, that is in part being created, in a good way, because of the advancement of AI technology,' said Governor Bill Lee. 'We cannot afford to lose the war, and in order to do that, we cannot afford to lose the energy battle, and in order to win that battle, we have to be leaders in the nuclear energy going forward.' Leaders like Governor Lee and Senator Marsha Blackburn said companies like Orano will push the US in the right direction. 'Because of what we have with Oak Ridge and with TVA, there is no excuse for us not to lead the way,' said Blackburn. Inspector finds off temperatures, no sanitizer at Chinese restaurant in Morristown With this new uranium enrichment facility, Frank added it will be an investment not only in nuclear energy, but also in the community it is built in. 'Its drawing national attention, It's drawn international attention, other companies are saying, you know what? We need to take another look here,' she said. 'We're getting more locations, a lot of industry interest, so it's really been a spark.' While the event was for the opening of the offices in Anderson County, the uranium enrichment center will be located in Roane County. According to Orano, operations at the facility won't start for a while, but they say they could begin in the early 2030's. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
